Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Mount Fuji Kaori, Jerry and I went to the 5th station at Fuji. It was a very cloudy day. But for a few minutes, the clouds cleared and we were able to see Fuji.

This was a special statue on the way to Fuji.

This is a special tree. If you make a wish at this tree, then it will come true. (supposedly)

We ate lunch at this restaurant at the 5th station. (By the way, there are 10 "stations" to Fuji. The first, starts at the bottom of the mountain. Only the very daring/adventurous/ masochistic people start there.) The bus, however, takes you half-way up the mountain to the 5th station, so why start at the bottom? This restaurant has a huge replica of Fuji. I took this picture of the sculpture.

This was a funny attraction. Put your head through the hole and turn into someone else. This is the entrance to Fuji.

You never know what you're going to see in Japan. This is a crazy statue I saw on the way home from Fuji.

This roller coaster was featured on t.v. as one of the new fastest attractions in Japan. It was fun to see in action on the way home.

This was one of the most decorated buses I've seen in Japan.

This is one of the most famous masks in Japan. This monster wards off evil spirits.

Here is a group of people getting ready to climb Fuji.

Hurry UP! Take the picture! The clouds cleared just for a minute. Then we took some fabulous pictures of Fuji-san.

But for most of the day, the clouds covered the mountain.

This guy was nice enough to take our picture. Well, a few times.

Kaori was thinking of adding these to her shoe collection, but when she tried them on, they were just a "little" too big for her.

Kaori prayed for her Grandfather, who is ill.

Then Kaori read my own fortune. Which, by the way, was a very good one!

This is the entrance to the shrine on Mount Fuji.

JERRY! THE ICE CREAM IS RIGHT ABOVE YOU!

Kaori and Jerry look like a COUPLE! :-) (They will both kill me for saying this...)

Now here are some SERIOUS CLIMBERS! They climb Fuji every year!

YOU WANT TO OFFER ME HOW MUCH TO BUY MY WALKING STICK?

(silly American!)

Jealous of all my STAMPS? I know you are! Money can't buy you stamps! YOU GOTTA CLIMB BABY!

You can buy one of THOSE STICKS over THERE! and get your OWN STAMPS!

These horses were for hire to get you up to the top of the mountain. POOR HORSES!

These climbers were stretching before the big climb!

Kaori got SO MAD at me for taking this picture! She sat in front of me on the bus to the 5th station and fell asleep. I, being the sweet little angel that I always am, chose to catch her in her most beautiful pose, by dropping my camera just in front of her nose and then: FLASH!